Michael J. Schell, Ph.D. elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association
Grant and Award Announcement
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 11-Jul-2025 23:11 ET (12-Jul-2025 03:11 GMT/UTC)
A team of researchers from the University of Chicago, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, has identified a novel oncometabolite that accumulates in tumors and impairs immune cells’ ability to fight cancer.
This new review article highlights the pivotal and paradoxical role of R-loops in maintaining genomic stability while simultaneously posing risks to it. These three-stranded nucleic acid structures, composed of an RNA:DNA hybrid and a displaced DNA strand, are now recognized not merely as byproducts of transcription but as essential regulatory elements in gene expression, DNA replication, and repair mechanisms.
A recent review published in Genes & Diseases sheds light on the complex and multifaceted role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in cancer progression, with a particular focus on the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Traditionally recognized for its critical functions in neural development, FMRP is now emerging as a key regulator in cancer biology, influencing tumor growth, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This growing body of knowledge presents a shift in understanding how RNA metabolism can drive oncogenic processes and potentially offer novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
A deeper understanding of osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignant bone tumor affecting children and adolescents, is reshaping strategies for overcoming treatment resistance.
Lipid metabolism has emerged as a central player in the progression and therapy resistance of breast cancer, particularly the aggressive subtype known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This review article highlights how disruptions in lipid regulation can significantly influence the behavior of breast cancer cells, impacting their growth, metastasis, and response to treatment.
A new wave of scientific interest is spotlighting GOT2—glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2—as a compelling therapeutic target in the fight against pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal and treatment-resistant malignancies. This mitochondrial enzyme, deeply embedded in glutamine metabolism, plays a central role in sustaining cancer cell survival and growth. By regulating the malate-aspartate shuttle, GOT2 maintains cellular redox balance, generates essential metabolic intermediates, and influences energy production pathways that fuel tumor proliferation.